2. Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob – Way more pop-sounding and danceable stuff from the Canadian duo, yet with lyrics detailing love gone terribly wrong. Taylor Swift wishes she had written songs as sharp as “Closer,” “I Was a Fool” and “I Couldn’t Be Your Friend.”

3. AFI, Burials – A painfully honest record filled with hints of betrayal, despair and ultimately loss (see “I Hope You Suffer”). The overall matured sound, on standouts like “17 Crimes” and “Heart Stops,” is far from the quartet’s early screaming punk days, leaning more heavily on its ’80s influences, especially Depeche Mode.

4. Capital Cities, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery – A completely fun record featuring that inescapable radio hit “Safe and Sound.” These L.A. guys brought their live party into the studio for an irresistible debut, capped by key tracks like “I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo” and “Farrah Fawcett Hair.”

5. Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park – This country newcomer’s songwriting is sassy, confident and bold. “Merry Go ‘Round” is heartbreaking, “Blowin’ Smoke” toe-tapping, and “Follow Your Arrow,” as silly as it is, still boasts great words of wisdom about doing what you want coming from a 25-year-old. A major breakout performance.

6. Paramore,Paramore – Vocalist Hayley Williams reveals herself as a true powerhouse as the band discards some of its rock feel to explore a more pop/dance direction. The results, on highlights like “Grow Up” and “Still Into You,” are catchy, energetic, ridiculously cute.

7. Arctic Monkeys, AM – An incredibly well-crafted work with some of the best lines of the year, like this one from “Do I Wanna Know”: “Baby, we both know that the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day.”

8. Avenged Sevenfold, Hail to the King – O.C.’s most successful metal outfit explores new territory with its sixth studio effort, leaning heavily on new drummer Arin Ilejay and bassist Johnny Christ for a bigger, more booming sound a la AC/DC. Zacky Vengeance and Sinister Gates still team for stellar soaring guitar solos. Frontman M. Shadows has sharpened his chops; now he sings more than screams. Yet it isn’t a total departure from previous works – there’s still plenty of Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden peppered in.

9. Ghost B.C., If You Have Ghost – A five-track EP produced by Foo Fighters chief Dave Grohl that includes wickedly entertaining covers of ABBA, Depeche Mode, Army of Lovers, Roky Erickson and a live version of the Swedish group’s own “Secular Haze.” The cover art is also epic, vocalist Papa Emeritus II, in signature skull makeup and pope garb, looking like the lead in a remake of Nosferatu.

10. Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks – Tipped by the self-explanatory “Came Back Haunted,” this was an epic return from Trent Reznor after a five-year hiatus. Lyrically dark and musically heavy as you’d expect, it’s still leavened with the tiniest bits of hope, from the fragile ballad “Find My Way” to the desperate “All Time Low” and the self-realizing “I Would for You.”

ROBERT KINSLER1. Sigur Rós, Kveikur – Epic, inspired, heroic and sweeping in ways that defy easy description. Fans of the Icelandic troupe’s previous albums will find that this one rivals them, and at times is even heavier via distortion that has been fused into symphonic soundscapes that have become the group’s territory alone.

2. Johnny Marr, The Messenger – So wonderful that it’s a wonder why he didn’t turn down participation in post-Smiths projects such as The The, Electronic, the Cribs and Modest Mouse in order to focus on completing a solo project much sooner.

3. Ben Harper with Charlie Musselwhite, Get Up! – Few blues pairings have ever yielded the power, ambition and magical music-making achieved by singer-songwriter-guitarist Harper and the harmonica legend on this character-centered concept album, whose power will only grow over time.

4. Biffy Clyro, Opposites – Blending the artfulness of Doves and Radiohead with the firepower of Rush, this Scottish outfit might be the world’s first great alt-prog band. The trio’s latest wraps introspective lyrics with melodic choruses and dynamic breaks.

5. Paul McCartney, New – His first studio outing of all original songs since 2007’s Memory Almost Full finds Sir Paul has lost none of his magic as he chronicles the here-and-now in the bouncy “Queenie Eye,” reflective folk gem “Early Days” and the poptronica standout “Appreciate.”

6. Toad the Wet Sprocket, New Constellation – Having last issued a full-length studio effort in 1997, the beloved Santa Barbara quartet proved with this brilliant return that there’s plenty of creative life left in them. The glorious track “The Moment,” the probing “Rare Bird” and ambitious “Enough” are among the standouts.

7. Richard X. Heyman, X – One of power pop’s often unsung champions recorded his aptly titled 10th album in his home studio in New York City, performing all vocals and playing all instrumental parts. Even more impressive are the songs, with the yearning “When Denny Dropped Out of the Scene” and the intoxicating “Be the One” among my favorites.

8. The Mavericks, In Time – There is an explosive and joyful quality to this group’s first album in a decade, with singer-guitarist Raul Malo leading them through genre-defying material that is a true mix of honky-tonk, country & Western and retro rock ’n’ roll, sprinkled with Latin flavors that help this one intoxicate from start to finish.

10. The Civil Wars, The Civil Wars – Although they are on indefinite hiatus, this Grammy-winning duo (singer-songwriter guitarist John Paul White and singer-keyboardist Joy Williams) followed up their amazing 2011 debut Barton Hollow with an equally thrilling sophomore effort that’s a bit more rocking than its predecessor. But those sublime harmonies and their bewitching songcraft remains.

Here’s a pairing of perennial favorites you’d have thought would have happened years ago: the remnants of Journey, re-enlivened for the better part of the last decade and two recent albums by Steve Perry sound-alike Arnel Pineda (above), hitting the road with one of classic rock's trustiest attractions, Steve Miller Band.

Their spring-into-summer jaunt, with Tower of Power opening, will launch from Southern California, starting May 15 at Chula Vista’s Sleep Train Amphitheatre, $36.50-$151, and then heading north to take over the Hollywood Bowl on May 16, $35-$175. Both shows go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.

Brandon Boyd: The Incubus vocalist has formed a new side project, Sons of the Sea, with whom he issued a 10-tune, self-titled debut in September. The group has winter shows slated for Feb. 12 at the Glass House in Pomona, $30, and Feb. 13 at L.A.’s Belasco Theater, $29.50, on sale Friday at 10 a.m. Also at the GH: Breathe Carolina with Mod Sun, Ghost Town and Lionfight, Feb. 15, $15.

Enrique Bunbury: The Greek Theatre is getting a jump on next year’s season. Already announced is the Puscifer-led Cinquanta event, also featuring A Perfect Circle and Failure, on May 10. And now this Spanish rocker, touring behind eighth effort Palosanto, has set a Griffith Park date even further into the future, Sept. 5, $29.75-$125, on sale Friday at 10 a.m.

He’s played shows under the banner How the West Was Won before. Did so for a tour with the Game back in 2005, in fact, and again three years ago with Ice Cube.

But Snoop Dogg (billed as such, not as Snoop Lion) is reviving the theme once more, re-teaming with Cube and Game and a slew of other West Coast rap figures for a bash at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine on Oct. 12. Also in the mix: Warren G & the G Funk Allstars, Xzibit, King Tee & the Alkaholiks with Tha Dogg Pound, Jayo Felony and Kid Frost & Rodney O.

Tickets, $19-$125, go on sale Friday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m.

The Black Crowes: Back at it after a two-year hiatus – and with a new guitarist on board, noted singer-songwriter Jackie Greene – the Robinson brothers and their mates are following up a summertime outing with Tedeschi Trucks Band by embarking on a fall tour that arrives at the Wiltern for two shows shortly before Thanksgiving, Nov. 22-23, $45-$85, on sale Friday at 10 a.m. Also see them Dec. 11 at Avalon in San Diego, $53, and Dec. 13 at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, $34.50-$70.

The Mavericks' highly-anticipated return to performing at last year's Stagecoach Festival in Indio after close to a decade away has turned into a dream come true for fans of the Grammy-winning Americana troupe.

Not only has the group released one of the first great albums of 2013 (In Time) but a rousing 130-minute set at the Coach House Saturday night, before a crowd that filled every corner of the venue, further confirmed the continuing excitement of the Mavericks' spirited comeback.

The 25-song set was flawless, with Mavericks lead singer Raul Malo leading the quintet (supported by an additional four "new Mavericks" on this tour) in a balance of sterling arrangements and exuberant music-making for fans who cheered, sang, clapped, danced and generally seemed to have the night of their lives.

Sold out in O.C. and Solana Beach, but tickets remain for L.A.'s El Rey Theatre next week.

With all the modern technology at musicians' disposal today, authenticity often falls by the wayside during the recording process. That wasn't a problem for Grammy-winning Americana band the Mavericks, who have reunited and released an excellent album, In Time (from Valory Music Co.), their first in nearly a decade.

"Not to set us apart from other talented people, but we don't have to manufacture our sound. It comes out of us," says multi-instrumentalist Robert Reynolds from a Southwest stop in Santa Fe.

"When we hit the live stage, people are blown away and say: 'They sound incredible!' It's almost like they didn't expect you could. When you haven't faked your sound, it's really not voodoo or black magic; it's just performing."

•Doheny Blues Festival: The lineup for the 16th annual weekend gathering, May 18-19 at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, has fallen into place. Topping the roster is the new pairing of jam-rocker Ben Harper and blues harmonica great Charlie Musselwhite (their Stax album Get Up! arrives next week), along with the first fest appearance from jaw-dropping virtuoso Joe Bonamassa in three years.

Also in the mix are several Doheny Blues veterans: the uplifting pedal-steel soul of Robert Randolph & the Family Band, belters Marcia Ball and Shemekia Copeland, guitarists Sonny Landreth and Cindy Cashdollar, Zydeco star Terrance Simien, the return of the James Hunter Six and more. Only weekend passes are currently on sale, $100 for general admission, $225 for VIP. More acts are expected to be announced through March.

• The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: As you might have noticed when the 2013 inductees were revealed, the HoF is finally bringing its 28th annual ceremony west and opening it up to the public, April 18 at Nokia Theatre. Tickets, $75-$750, are on sale now for American Express card-holders. Hall of Fame and Museum and fan club sales start Jan. 28, with the general on-sale starting Feb. 1. The ceremony airs a month later on HBO.

Who will induct whom? John Mayer and Gary Clark Jr. will play in tribute to Albert King, with Mayer giving the speech. Don Henley will salute Randy Newman. Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson will perform in honor of Donna Summer. And Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters will celebrate the awesomeness of Rush. No word who will give praise to Public Enemy, Heart, Lou Adler or Quincy Jones.

April 29th, 2012, 1:20 pm by GEORGE A. PAUL, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

When a band is genuinely having a good time onstage, the feeling quickly transfers to the audience as well. That was definitely the case Saturday night during the Mavericks' first public concert in nine years, a jewel of a Stagecoach booking that also served as the initial stop on the band's North American reunion tour.

From the '90s through to the early 2000s, the highly eclectic group amassed both a platinum- and gold-selling album; several Grammy, ACM and CMA awards; and placed more than a dozen singles on the country charts. Yet the quartet – lead vocalist and guitarist Raul Malo, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Eddie Perez, bassist Robert Reynolds and drummer Paul Deakin – should have gone on to much bigger success. (View the Stagecaoch Day 2 photo gallery.)

With any luck, their new studio album, due this fall on Valory Music Co. (home to Reba, Jewel and others), will be met with open arms. If the handful of fresh songs debuted in Indio – notably the captivating single "Born to Be Blue" – are any indication of what the remainder holds, that won't be a problem. Despite a middling mix on the Palomino stage that found them blaring at arena-level volume, the expanded lineup of horns, an accordionist and keyboards still created a glorious sound for a medium-sized yet enthusiastic crowd of faithful devotees.

Both Deakin and Malo were all smiles, and the latter's robust voice was a godsend on old favorites like "Pretend," "There Goes My Heart," "What a Crying Shame," a subtly gorgeous take on Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou" and the wonderful main set-closer, "Dance the Night Away." (Couples could frequently be seen doing exactly that.)

It's been another long hot day out here in Indio, and we will have much to say soon enough.

George Paul, who caught Sara Watkins and the McEuen Sessions early Saturday afternoon, will be back with reviews of Luke Bryan and the Mavericks. Robert Kinsler, who enjoyed a quick tour-bus chat with Steve Martin before his bluegrass performance with the Steep Canyon Rangers (which drew an overflow tent crowd), will next have thoughts on the Jayhawks and the guy who clearly had the best tent set (someone say any stage?) all day, Chris Isaak.

And once I get some shut-eye, I'll also weigh in on Saturday's headlining turns from Miranda Lambert (very much in command) and Blake Shelton (very meh, too many absurd covers) as well as some overall thoughts about this sixth Stagecoach as it heads into its final day.

To be blunt, I'm torn as to how I feel about the fest at this point. This saddens me: There have been more than 60 arrests at Stagecoach, typically for drunken misconduct, in just the past 24 hours. That's more than were made during both weekends of Coachella combined. (And still it's hip-hop that gets a bad rap.)

Details have surfaced about Stagecoach 2012, the sixth staging of the country music festival in Indio -- and beyond finding out who's headlining, the biggest news for annual attendees is that they'll need to plan for a longer trip.

For the first time since 2008, when a Friday-night bill led by the Eagles and John Fogerty was tacked on, Stagecoach will once again expand to three days of singalongs in the sun, April 27-29 at the Empire Polo Field, where Coachella will be held for two weekends prior to it. Tickets go on sale Oct. 28 at 10 a.m.

As usual, the breakdown of who performs which day isn't laid out on the poster, though it was announced that way on Go Country 105 this morning. But the full roster of artists includes four headliners, three of whom are Stagecoach veterans.

Brad Paisley, who topped the list alongside Kenny Chesney in 2009, is back again to close out next year's run, as are two stars who appeared as barely-known newcomers at the launch of the festival in 2007, Jason Aldean (playing Friday) and Miranda Lambert. (Both of them have turned up in the desert again, Aldean two years ago, Lambert three.)